Walt Disney World guests can prepare to go off-road through towering mountains, winding paths, and powerful geysers as part of an ambitious new Cars-themed attraction at Magic Kingdom.
At D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim, California, Disney revealed new details about Piston Peak National Park (to be revealed at Disney World). Imagineers also unveiled the name of its main attraction, Cars Ridge Run Rally, and previewed the features riders will encounter along the off-road course.
The announcement followed an earlier look at a 225-square-foot model of Piston Peak displayed in D23’s Imagineering: Horizons pavilion. PEOPLE reports that the model revealed the land’s full layout for the first time, including the ride track winding through a landscape inspired by the Rocky Mountains.
Piston Peak will be built in Frontierland as part of what Disney Parks Blog calls the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history. The company has not yet announced an opening date for the new land, but promotional images and videos have been posted to the Disney Parks social media pages, including Instagram and X.
Cars Ridge Run Rally Will Take Guests On A Sprawling Adventure
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Cars Ridge Run Rally will send visitors up Piston Peak as they compete to record the fastest lap through the wilderness. According to the Disney Parks Blog, the course includes a snow-covered mountaintop, a bumpy downhill section, and a field of erupting geysers.
Disney is also developing a new vehicle specifically for the attraction. Imagineer Michael Hundgen explained that the vehicle’s tires and suspension will actually react to the terrain beneath them, allowing riders to physically feel the bumps, drops, and rocks along the course.
The race will end near a geyser named Old Tankfull before guests make their final run toward the finish line. Disney plans to have Lightning McQueen and Mater appear along the route as commentators discussing the race for the fictional Racing Sports Network.
Imagineers drew inspiration from real off-road driving while developing the attraction. According to PEOPLE, team members worked with a motocross company and drove off-road vehicles across rocky terrain in Arizona to better understand the experience they wanted to recreate for riders.
Piston Peak Is Bringing Two New Rides To Frontierland
Cars Ridge Run Rally will not be the only attraction inside Piston Peak. At D23, according to WDW News Today, Disney announced Miss Fritter’s Daredevil Spin-Along, a family-oriented ride starring the demolition derby school bus from Cars 3. Disney says the attraction will feature a school-bus-sized Miss Fritter animatronic overseeing a demolition derby-style experience.
The larger Piston Peak area will also include a visitor lodge, Ranger HQ, and trails surrounded by trees, waterfalls, rivers, mountains, and geysers inspired by the Rocky Mountains and American national parks.
The expansion comes at the expense of two longtime Magic Kingdom attractions. PEOPLE reports that Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island permanently closed in July 2025 to make room for Piston Peak, after having been part of the park since the 1970s.
The new model does show that water will remain part of this section of Frontierland. Mickey Visit reports that a smaller river will run between Piston Peak and the existing Frontierland walkway, while Disney says trees and landscaping will help separate the racing attraction from neighboring areas of Magic Kingdom